Animal lovers and compassionate citizens, we face an urgent situation at PortMiami where hundreds of community cats need our voices after a sudden disruption in their daily feeding routines. This situation has personally touched me, as I have been involved in the care and well-being of these cats, many of whom have become like family to me.
Historically, PortMiami had a wonderful, organized system featuring dedicated employees, designated feeding stations, and reliable supplies of cat food to keep our furry friends healthy. To understand how we can best help them right now, we reached out directly to the county for guidance.
According to a wonderful conversation with Bernie Alfonso, the compassionate TNVR Program Coordinator at Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS), the current break from employee feeding is actually a helpful trick to keep our kitty friends safe. When our sweet port cats are completely full from staff meals, they have no reason to step into the cozy traps needed for their spay, neuter, and vaccination checkups, which slows down our efforts to protect them. Bernie also shared that some well-meaning visitors have accidentally left behind messy dishes and food clutter, and we all want to keep the cats' home clean and beautiful.
Most comforting of all, Bernie—who is a true cat lover with a heart of gold—firmly promised that the scary rumors about harming the cats are entirely false! Instead, he is personally visiting the port to gently find, check on, and care for any sick kitties to make sure they get the medical love they deserve. We completely support our friends at MDAS and Bernie’s caring trapping goals, and we want to work together to keep the port clean and safe for every single cat.
However, while trapping is underway, we must ensure these cats do not go entirely without a structured, safe nutrition plan. Consistent care is vital to keeping them healthy. According to The Humane Society, structured TNVR programs typically lead to a 66% reduction in community cat populations over a 10-year period, but caregivers and the county must work hand-in-hand to achieve this.
We invite Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, our wonderful District 5 Commissioner Vicki L. Lopez, and the Port and Resiliency Committee to team up with MDAS and local volunteers on a happy compromise! Because PortMiami sits right inside Commission District 5, our local leaders have a great opportunity to help guide this process. We would love to create a structured, clean, and regulated feeding schedule that works perfectly alongside TNVR trapping timelines, enforces strict cleanliness rules to eliminate litter, and ensures our community cats are always loved and fed.
Our county leadership has consistently championed humane, common-sense animal welfare solutions. By signing this petition, you are standing with us to advocate for a compassionate, practical, and clean framework that supports Bernie’s lifesaving work while respecting the daily operations and committee oversight of PortMiami.
Together, we can pave the way for positive change and ensure that no animal suffers from hunger or neglect. Please sign the petition to make a difference today for our community cats at PortMiami!